Ponies And A Half

Cologne offered Akane, Zhang, and Rarity if she could take over, as she had some herbal remedies that she used last time from the whole cooking incident.

It was because of this that Rarity offered to help Akane pick out clothes. Zhang stayed behind to make sure that his medicine and the herbal remedies wouldn't clash causing a series of side effects.

"Oh I bet it's going to be so romantic," gushed the fashionista.

"Yeah," agreed Akane with a sweat drop.

"You're still in love with Dr. Tofu…" Rarity then remembered why Akane wouldn't act on her feelings, "Is it true… about Ranma's neck?"

"Yes." Akane winced at the memory.

"Oh dear. It's a good thing it's back to normal."

"Say, Rarity. What do you think of Ranma?"

"Oh. Well he is uncouth and rude. But I know for a fact that his father is to blame. That aside, he is a nice boy."

"I see…"

"You should try asking the others."

"I did. You were the last one."

"What?"

-Series of flashbacks-

Akane asked Applejack sometime after a spar.

"He's cocky, that's for sure," said the earth pony. "But when he sets something on his mind, he'll do it."

Akane nodded. "Yeah, I noticed."

Akane asked Rainbow Dash one day when the latter was lazing about.

"Ranma, he's the best sparing partner I have ever had," remarked the Pegasus,

"There aren't that many black belts in Ponyville and none of them are even close to his level."

Akane chuckled. "Considering how good you are, I do not doubt that at all."

Akane asked Silver as he was renovating the house.

"Ranma's cursed." says Silver as he floats upside down patching up holes in the roof.

"Huh?"

"I mean cursed. He's not just cursed with that Jusenkyo curse, he's cursed with one of the most dreadful curses ever."

"What is it?"

"Imagine that no matter how many women you reject they still come or in your case men." Silver patches up another hole in the roof.

" Oh..."

"Be nice to him, he's still got a couple of women assassins after him..."

"Oh..."

Akane asked Pinkie Pie sometime after she taught her cooking lessons.

"Ranma?" asked Pinkie, "He's sort of like a big brother I never had! He's really cool!" Pinkie then smiled. "About that night I was in his bed… He'd comforted me after a bad dream of mine."

Akane looked at Pinkie. "How bad was it?"

Pinkie began to shake, "Please don't ask…" she whispered.

Akane blink and realized they hadn't known each other long enough to find out.

Akane asked Twilight (well Hikaru) on the way home.

"Ranma, he's a very good friend," said the studious girl. "He keeps feeling like he owes it to me for saving his life but it's nothing."

Akane chuckled. "He seems to have honor as his biggest priority."

Akane asked Fluttershy shortly after getting home.

"Well… he's… um… he's nice and he very protective of us… and…" the Pegasus whispered, then let out a squeak that Akane couldn't understand.

Akane frowned. "At least you could meet Ryoga because of him."

Fluttershy blushed slightly, "What do you mean?" asked Fluttershy.

"Never mind." Said Akane unsure if Fluttershy felt the same way about Ryoga.

-End Flashbacks-

"And I'm the last pony you asked?" asked Rarity.

"You've been so busy…" lied Akane. Actually, the truth was that the two of them barely talked as it was since the two had nothing in common. Akane was a tomboy who liked martial arts, Rarity was a fashionista who really disliked it.

Rarity saw through the lie and knew she wasn't that close to Akane. She decided not to press the matter further. "Oh, this one is perfect."

Akane sweat dropped as she looked at the dress. It was a very frilly dress, and she didn't even when know she when bought it, or even the last time she wore it. "No… I don't think I'll wear that on a date with Ranma." Akane was trying her hardest not to face palm at the dress choice.

The next day, Akane waited in the park in a dark green dress she owned. The two decided to meet in a park beforehand because Ranma said he had to do something.

"Hey!" came Ranma's voice. She turned around and saw him holding a bouquet of red roses.

"You didn't have to get me roses," said Akane as Ranma offered her the bouquet.

"Sorry." Ranma rubbed the back of his head.

"It's fine," Akane took the bouquet. "So…where are we going?"

"I was thinking the Tokyo dome, I heard there's an amusement park there."

"That's a great idea."

In a nearby bush, Zhang, Shampoo, Momo, Belle, Ran, Alex, Hikaru, and Chiyo were watching.

"What if we get caught?" the last of them asked.

"We won't get caught," assured Momo, "Because I'm sure Twilight will do something."

"I'm not using magic to hide us," sighed Hikaru.

"Oh. But I still think we're safe, because that's how it goes in anime."

They all sweat dropped when she said that, still unable to believe she became an otaku. Well, in the metaphorical sense, it really wasn't surprising that she did become one once she was introduced to it.

"Not if Shampoo has anything to say about it." Said Shampoo.

"You're not still jealous are you?" asked Belle.

"Shampoo not jealous." Shampoo had some jealously issues she still needed to work out. After all, it was very rare for her people to share a man.

Zhang says," You guys Pinkie promise that after we finish stalking them, we go to the neat underground base I made."

"Where we get to interrogate you? And you promise to always tell the truth?"

Zhang hesitates. The Pinkie Promise is paramount to Harry Potter's Unbreakable vows.

"Come on, they're leaving."

And so they proceed to follow them to the subway. Of course, they kept their distance so they wouldn't be noticed. At least they hoped. After all, it's difficult to hide when your group wears colors that clash with one another. It's like hiding a large iron pipe in a haystack.

After catching the train, they got to the right station and were at Tokyo Dome City, where they bought all-ride bracelets.

"So Rarity casually gave you the money?" asked Akane.

Ranma nodded, "She already has a couple of clients."

"That's good for her."

"Do you want to get something to eat or go to some of the rides?"

Akane stared at him and blushed slightly. "Really… I think we should go for the rides."

"Oh, okay." Ranma did not know how to react to that.

Nearby, the others were watching him.

"She so lucky," said Shampoo.

"Maybe, it would have been you instead if..." Zhang trails off as six glares pierce him. "Sorry.

On the other hand, Chiyo seemed to be more concerned with something else; the fact that Momo was missing. "Pinkie's missing," she said.

"Great…", groaned Ran. "Taking her to an amusement park was a bad idea."

"Don't worry," assured Hikaru. "I'm sure she'll be fine." Thankfully, they didn't have to panic for long.

"I'm back." Momo came in with a couple of shopping bags and wearing a pink furry top hat with deer antlers.

"That's going to do wonders for our inconspicuousy" Zhang says dryly.

Everyone gaped at her, wondering where she even went. "Where did you even go?", Hikaru asked.

"I heard there was a store that sold stuff from Shonen Jump so I went there. Sorry I didn't tell you about it, but it was really cool! I managed to buy so much."

This made everyone sweat drop, though none of them were surprised she did that.

"Just take off that gaudy hat before they see you," said Belle.

"But it's Chopper's hat. Well his original hat… they didn't have the new one for some reason."

"You'll still be seen," warned Alex with a sweat drop.

"Fine…" Conceding to her friends, Momo took it all off put it in one of the bags. "So, has anything happened yet?"

"No, not yet…" answered Belle.

Zhang says," How about we put the bags into the IDS pocket?" Momo nods.

Hikaru sasy," But she..." Momo stuff the items into her hair and they disappear. "That shouldn't be possible."

All sweat-drop at Momo's innocence.

"Umm... wasn't expecting that" Zhang mumbles," Lets watch them. I betcha Ranma's not going onto the log flume!"

If only they knew what the couple they were following knew that they were being followed…

Akane and Ranma went to ride the rollercoaster called the Thunder Dolphin.

Afterwards, Akane wanted to ride the Wonder Drop, the park's log flume.

"But I don't want to," complained Ranma.

"Oh come on," teased Akane with a sly smile, "Afraid to get a little wet?"

"I'm not afraid to get a little wet, just embarrassed."

Offside comment from the narrator. That sounds so wrong.

"Shut up," fourth wall breakers mutter.

"I'll get you some hot water afterwards."

"Fine."

"Wow… she got him to go on that water ride," said Ran as they watched from a distance.

"Shampoo totally not jealous," said Shampoo.

"That came out of nowhere," mused Belle with a sweat drop.

"Sugar cube, it's all right if you're jealous," said Alex.

"Shampoo no jealous!" the Chinese Amazon yelled.

This made everyone sweat drop, including several people within earshot.

With Akane and Ranma, they went on the Wonder Drop. There was some confusion with the ride staff after Ranma came back a girl, but they managed to avoid any questions. Akane got hot water while Ranma-Chan hid. Thankfully, there were no further mishaps as she managed to acquire it and change him back without problems. After that, they went to lunch at a noodle shop run by a duck in a noodle hat.

"So, are you enjoying yourself?" asked Ranma.

"I am," Akane answered with a slight blush.

"This is my first time going on a date like this."

"You've been on a date before?" asked Akane.

"No... Not really."

Akane sighed, "What is your relationship with Shampoo exactly? I mean, she tried to kill you and is now in love with you… and…"

"It's hard to say. When we first met, she was very hostile. Constantly hunting me and trying to kill me, but after a week we came to Japan and then you know Zhang solved all our problems. Genma had a fight with both of them, but Shampoo was really clingy after that as you know. Then Pops had another fight with Cologne."

"What kind of fight?"

"I don't know. You should ask Cologne for the details. I think it has something to with women because I remember Rainbow Dash hearing what the fight was about and giving pops a beating. Also, after the fight, Cologne told Shampoo something I didn't know because it was in Chinese, but after that she wasn't clingy anymore."

Akane sighed. Shampoo sometimes fed Ranma during dinner and sometimes made lunch for him. But she couldn't imagine Shampoo being that clingy.

The rest of the lunch was mostly silent as they ate. Akane had so many thoughts swirling though her head about Shampoo and Ranma's relationship.

Not too far from the window of the noodle shop, the date watchers were wondering what was going on.

"Something must have happened during that conversation," said Momo.

"Probably about Shampoo," guessed Ran.

"Why about Shampoo?" asked the mentioned girl.

"Because having a relationship like that is tough on anyone, and I doubt that she wants to listen about you," said Hikaru.

"I mean first you tried to kill him, then me and his other friends, then now you're in love with him. It just seems like superficial relationship to me," Says Zhang.

Before the glare of Shampoo can kill him a Angel comes down.

"Excuse me," a nearby voice came. A voice they recognized. "Can you tell me where Furinkan high is?"

They turned to see Ryoga, lost as usual, asking a random bystander for directions.

"Ryoga!" called out Chiyo.

The bystander in black says," Mr. Zhang's friend has made contact with target. Permission to leave Mrs. Nabiki?" Murmurs." Hai. Thank you." He goes into a black Honda and drives away.

Ryoga turned to see them. He was so happy… despite not knowing where he was.

"What are you doing here?" Momo shushed him, covered his mouth, and brought him to where they were sitting. He saw Ranma and Akane in the restaurant. "You're still doing this? I would've thought you stopped."

"Yes…" sighed Alex.

Zhang got them into watching romance dramas and then they started stalking people on dates. It was really awkward. Zhang regretted introducing them to Korean Drama even though they're the best kind of drama there is.

"I've been trying to make them stop and go home…" said Chiyo.

"Only half the time," said Ran with a slight smirk. Chiyo blushed slightly when she said that.

"So…" said Ryoga.

"You should stick with us… Kuno's still waiting and it's starting to get weird with him."

"How weird?"

Everyone exchanged looks…

Kuno was looking at what appeared to be some kind of trap.

"I'll get the birds! I'll get the birds and the Rats!" said Kuno in a crazed way. "The birds will no longer steal my food once I take prisoners…" He began to laugh a laugh that signified that he has lost the last shred of his sanity.

His tents bursts into flames," CURSE YOU RATTY THE TATATAT!"

Back at the Dome City…

"Just don't ask," was all Ran said.

"I don't think its helping that I trained rats to set his tent on fire." Zhang said. Surprisingly, no glare.

"That bad…" asked Ryoga.

All of them nodded in agreement.

Back in the restaurant, the two finished their meal.

"Do you want to ride the Ferris Wheel?" asked Ranma.

"Sure," answered Akane. They headed to the Ferris wheel called the Big O and got on.

"So, I noticed you and Applejack have gotten close."

"We did."

"That's good. I've been worried about her."

"So you know too."

"She's the one who took it the hardest. I never really had a home, to have one and be separated from it."

"How long have you been traveling?"

"Ever since I can remember. It's always been me and Pops, just traveling. I didn't have many friends. Really, my only friends before China was a boy named Ukyo when I was a kid and Ryoga."

"But you and Ryoga fought all the time."

"So did me and Ukyo but it is was more of a game. His father ran an okonomiyaki cart and we would always spar. If I won, I'd get a free one."

Akane couldn't help but giggle at that one, "That sounds so cute."

Ranma blushed when she said that. "Actually. I only remembered Ukyo recently. Since Equestria—where our new friends aside from Shampoo come from—is full of friendship, it's got me thinking about my friends."

Ukyo will be coming soon... Along with Nodoka...

"STOP SPOILING THE ******* STORY ALREDY!"

"Really?"

Ranma nodded.

"So…" Akane made an attempt to change the subject.

"You're talking about romantic between me and them? No… they're just friends. Sure, I care about them. But really, it's more like sisters than anything."

"I see…" Akane sighed in relief.

"I'd hate to ask for advice from you about this."

"It's about going on a date with Shampoo, right? Makes sense she has been following us with the others."

"So you did you notice them." Ranma sweat dropped at that.

"It's hard not to notice such a colorful group. Especially when Pinkie Pie showed up with that hat."

Both of them laughed when she said that.

"You know, they followed people going on dates ever since Zhang introduced them to Korean Drama."

"Really?"

Ranma began to tell her a story of one of the dates they followed: Two people who everytime they walked into sunlight their skin would glitter., and how they followed, especially how badly they hid themselves.

Below them in an area next to the arcade, Shampoo was watching with a pair of binoculars. Ran, Momo, Chiyo, and Ryoga were in the arcade, while Alex, Belle, and Hikaru were sitting next to her.

"I doubt Akane would even do anything like that," said Alex.

"Shampoo not jealous if that's what you think," said the Chinese Amazon.

Keep telling yourself that, thought Belle with a sweat drop.

I can't believe she brought binoculars, thought Hikaru with a sweat drop while face palming.

"Twilight!" said Momo, "I need your help with something."

"What?"

She led them to a UFO catcher where a toy was stuck in the prize chute. "I won, but… it was too big to go through."

"Why is it even that big?"

"Can you please use your magic to get it though the hole?"

"Fine." Hikaru conceded, and thankfully she wasn't caught. Zhang was.

"You can't stop me from bringin all those plushies home!"

He got every single plushie stuck inside the entrance.

Ran keeps on muttering," We don't know him... We don't know him..." as they walk past.

Later that afternoon, Akane and Ranma headed back as well as their tag-alongs. As they were walking back to the Tendo Residence, Akane asked, "Should we?"

"I think we should," agreed Ranma with a smirk. The two stopped, then turned around.

"We know you're there. You can come out now." With that, the tag-alongs came out of their hiding spots.

"So… how long did you know?" asked Belle.

"The whole time." The tag-alongs all sweat dropped.

"Oh hey, Ryoga. I didn't know you were with them," said Ranma.

"Yeah… I decided to let them take me to the fight," sighed Ryoga.

"Good, because Kuno is going crazy. Well, crazier than usual."

"How crazy, because no one will tell me."

Back at Kuno's camp…

Kuno was laughing manically at a little bird that was trapped in a cage.

"See, you bird!" yelled Kuno. "I have a prisoner! And soon, all of you will be my prisoners!"

The little bird on the other hand was freaking out, wondering why the crazy human was holding him hostage. The human starts dancing as one of the trained rats lights his gi on fire.

"CURSE YOU RATTY THE RATATAT AND FLAPPY THE BIRDY TOO!"

Back with Ranma and co.…

"There's a reason for that," Ranma answered with a sweat drop.

"And its not because I trained rats!" Zhang says.

Ryoga couldn't help but do likewise. He now knew that it was best he didn't know.

Zhang then catches everybody in the vicinity in a giant force field!

"Now Pinkie Promise me that you'll go to the Secret Base I made for you guys!"

"Never! Not after you killed Soun!" Soun walks by," Oh, hello everybody!"

Sweat-drops.

Hikaru asks,"What are you doing here?"

"I'm coming home back from a job interview! I know now I haen't been the best father, so I'm doing my best to change. I'm quitting drinking too!" Soun walks back home to dinner.

"Well..." snaps Zhang.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, and stick a cupcake in my eye."

"Good! Tomorrow then! Its getting late!"

That night after dinner…

"So, how was your date?" asked Kasumi.

"I had a nice time!" said Akane. "We went to the Tokyo Dome complex."

"Oh that sounds like so much fun."

Akane nodded with a small smile.

After dinner, Akane took a bath, and got ready for bed. As she did, she looked at her hair in the mirror and began to think.

I did have a lot of fun at the date and am really starting to like Ranma, she thought.

Sure, the date wasn't romantic, but it was fun. After all the grief Kuno caused me, having fun and relaxing was just the thing I needed.

And the reason she grew out her hair was because of Dr. Tofu, so that he would notice her.

But now… she just wasn't sure…

She sighed and shrugged.

Maybe she should worry about that later.

After all, the next day Ryoga was finally going to fight Kuno. And she knew that was going to be an exciting match up!